Alejandro has given me permission to share with you photos of the box art of the two castles he got in 1974. You will noticed that in the photo there are Timpo crusaders and knights which did not come with the set. You got with the set copies of Marx Knights and Jean Knights. You also got some French knights which I do not know the name for them at the moment. I remembered buying the figures years ago in Belgium at a Toy R US.
Here is the other castle set that Alejandro got in the 70’s Noticed that in this one they used the Britains swoppet knights. This kind of advertising would get you into trouble today.
Hi Paul, just read here that you have been in hospital, hope you are well on the way to a full recovery.
The castle you are showing here was made by Cherilea to go with their later set of 65mm swoppet knights, I don’t recall ever seeing it on sale in England but it turns up a lot in Italy. There was also a Western cavalry fort similar to the Timpo one to go with their 65mm Union and Confederate swoppets, this would have been at the time when Cherilea were owned by Sharna Ware.
Best wishes, Brian
Thank You for the pictures, and info. I have been looking for information on, and this set/s for 35+ years. The bottom one is a large version of the set my friend had. It is an extremely nice set. Too bad it was’t more widely available here. I wonder what ever happened to to the molds for the castle, and where they are, as well as the knights.
Is it being produced in some other country now ? Perhaps they are in a warehouse somewhere, forgotten, and collecting dust. What a shame if that is the case.
Donde puedo conseguir un castillo como este? Lo quiero comprar.
Where can I get a castle like this? I want to buy it.
I have no idea where you can buy it as it is no longer being made. I have seen one in two years since I found this one. Watch
EBay as it might appear there
No tengo idea donde se puede comprar como que ya no se está realizando. He visto a uno de cada dos años desde que lo encontré. Reloj
EBay ya que puede aparecer allí
I have seen this castle a few times and actually found many of its pieces (about 25) when in PA at a flea market many (20?) years ago. I believe is is made by a company called Tibidabo, in Italy. There are some close versions that are Cherilea, and I have two of them. But the Tibidabo ones I have are substantially more rigid.
Hi Brian N
You are correct it is Tibidabo. From the box and figures it has been discerned that it is that.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I recently found one as well, it isn’t perfect, and I thought the price was high, but I bought it anyway, it had lots of figures, some definitely didn’t come with it originally (timpo romans for example).
It says Tibidabo-Torino-Made in Italy.
Out of curiosity, What did you pay? I am in possession of my old castle which I have truly loved. However, I need to move on. I have no where to display it and want to find a good home with a collector or a kid who will just enjoy the thing.
I did not pay much only about $30.00. Condition, how complete and if it has a box will determine price.
The box art on mine is also different than the 2 shown above, but mine is a small version ( 3 walls and 2 towers) instead of the 5 wall and 4 tower one, the gate is separate. It has the red tops, and is a deep grey color. The name on the box is IL Castello Valdstano
Which I guess the translation is … The Castle in Valle d’ Aosta. Thats what the seller said it was anyway.
The castle is very nice, it is different than the Cherilea versions I have seen, however it looks like one was copied, and slightly changed from the other. The gate house on Cherilea’s is different, the color can also be different. Both sets can come with different figures. Most typical I have seen with the Tibidado one is the copies of downsized 6 inch marx knights. These are factory painted, one set in silver, and one set in gold. They have at least 2 other colors on them as well. My friends were really nicely done.
It also can have siege equipment, my friend had the Britains catapult (with the 2 crew) set with the castle, now I don’t know if that was separate, or not for sure, but he had them in the box, when we used to take it out.
In my opinion this was one of the best castles made, especially for the price for 54mm figures. Much better than Marx’s castles, Some foreign ones like from Elastolin might give it a run for its money, but they will cost you more typically. Plus the really nice Elastolin castles are made for the 40mm figures. Their big castles just aren’t as nice as the smaller scale ones.
So, I still have mine with most of the original knights. I played with this set a lot, but took decent care of it. Is it worth anything? I am trying to cut my ties to my early childhood possessions (yes, I must move on). I loved it and played with it for hours.
I also have the Vollmer HO sized castle that is shaped upon an island. Super neat, fully built. Thoughts on sale-ability of the item. Or, do I just give it to Goodwill.
Would love to hear from other castle/knight geeks like myself.
Geoff A
Geoff
If anyone is interest I will pass along your email to them. I will let the readers say on value.
I saw one few weeks ago x around $50.00 I think.It was either sold or took off.
It was one of the other versions but with out case and mix knights inside…
Agree price will depend in.conditions
Ok.I have few references regarding the castles(two castles above pictures and history).
My references are extracted from following Books.
Toy castles and Knights by joseph W Svec III,
Toy Fortress and castles by Allen Hickling
Storia di castelli giocattolo italiani(history if Italian toy castles ) by Rizzio Bardolionne
I also own two variation-not exact same in texture and walls design.A cherilea and a Titilbao
The Cherilea Trapezoid shape castle version ,no quite made by Cherilea company itself, but used in by Cherilea and sold as playset with Cherilea swopped knights ,also sold using the tall almost 80 mm Cherilea semi swapped knights also made under PLASTY from Germany as well. It has a 17″ back wall,13″ side walls and 9″ tall walls.
and is the smaller version.
Titilbao sold a castle playset similar but not identical and larger in walls dimensions as well deep stand x figures-(different mold complete),but manufacture by MIP=Milan industrie di plastica, in 1966.It has 23″ back walls ,16″ side walls and 11″ towers. Castle serial # 969 call ( II Castello VOLOSTANO).It come with the Marx 70 mm 6 poses knights .
COMANSI did sold same castle but with different towers and out side support walls ground holders valurtes.Set # 200 in 1969 and it was sold first using the Jecasan knights mold poses and later using the tall 85 mm 6 poses knights they did as last ever COMANSI Unpainted production soldiers.
In Mexico there been several version either from comansi or titilbao version or Cherilea small too.
The above first picture set is depiction base in castle made in Mexico sold by (Industrias Plasticas) MOD 800 call (El Castillo del Rey Arturos)-kings Arthur castle and is direct copied of (Titilbao),not Cherilea at all; base in walls ,entrances and more easy to recognize (distinctive shape of merlons) that distinguish easy from more simple Cherilea design
The Cherilea version is not at all same as Tilbao or Comansi ,they differ in sizes, shape of towers design and other details such front entrance is more push forward in Titilbao.
To whom copied who first ,is very hard to said and figured out as not patent of original register but definitely not same castles.
Second picture looks like an enhanced made up version using extra walls of exact same Mexican castle in first picture.
Out of three version I know and see .The most detailed is the Italian made, follow by COMANSI with round towers .
I hope this information help a few more.
Best.
Thank you so much for the advice.
We are happy to help.